The aspect of the two serving-men, however, who rode up grinning, and made as if they would ride him down, determined him to return; which he did, pale with fury, as the last of the four horses clattered out, and after a puzzled look round trotted off at its leisure into the forest.
On this, the man grew more violent, as I have remarked frightened men do; so that at last the stranger condescended to notice him.
'My good sir,' he said coolly, looking at him through the window as if he had not seen him before, 'you annoy me.

What is the matter ?' The fellow retorted with a vast amount of bluster, asking what the devil we meant by turning out his horses.
'Only to give you and the gentlemen with you a little exercise,' my companion answered, with grim humour, and in a severe tone strange in one so young--'than which nothing is more wholesome after a full meal.
That, and a lesson in good manners.

Maignan,' he continued, raising his voice, 'if this person has anything more to say, answer him.

He is nearer your degree than mine.' And leaving the man to slink away like a whipped dog--for the mean are ever the first to cringe--my friend turned from the window.

Meeting my eyes as he went back to his seat, he laughed.